The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari “for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency.”

According to Ceoafrica, the spokesman of the committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement yesterday, said the clearing of the forest is a critical milestone but not the end of the war against insurgency, stressing that the government and the military must not rest on their oars.

The committee which said the clearing of the dreaded Sambisa Forest occupied by the Boko Haram terrorists by the present administration is a feat that was started by President Goodluck Jonathan, advised that the hot pursuit of the terrorists must continue unabated until the entire North-east is rid completely of insurgents. 

“Beyond Sambisa, all the other forests which criminals used as hideouts and bases must equally be cleared by the military.

“Forests such as Birnin Gwari, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Enugu and Benue have become killing fields. They must all be cleared of criminal elements.

“We congratulate the President for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency. We are happy that he has built on the efforts of his predecessors. Whatever we are witnessing now is as a result of all the efforts and sacrifices of the past and present.

“Nigerians and the international community will recall that the war effort received a major boost in the weeks leading up to the 2015 general elections. The insurgents were virtually annihilated - a feat that made it possible for elections to hold peacefully in almost all the local government areas of all the states in the North East last year,” the statement added.

The PDP commended the Nigerian troops, their families and the foreign countries that helped in the procurement of critical military hardware for their encouragement, determination and sacrifices made to record the huge success.